Workflow control configurator for use with process, factory-floor, environmental, computer aided manufacturing-based or other control system

A method of permitting a user to graphically configure a system for process, factory-floor, environmental, computer aided manufacturing-based or other (collectively, “process”) control, comprising:

• (A) presenting in a first display pane a first plurality of icons representing triggering events and a second plurality of icons representing actions,
• (B) dragging-and-dropping from the first display pane onto a second display pane at least one icon selected from the first plurality of icons and at least one icon selected from the second plurality of icons,
• (C) positioning the icons in the second display pane to establish a workflow for the process control system defining one or more selected actions to be taken by a production engine in response to a triggering event,
• (D) configuring a database to include a runtime component having a representation of the workflow and operational parameters obtained from at least one other database, each other database associated with a control application that is a client of the production engine, and
• (E) coupling the workflow with the database to perform process monitoring or process control.

A method of process, factory-floor, environmental, computer aided manufacturing-based or other (collectively, “process”) control, comprising:

• (A) presenting in a first display pane a first plurality of icons representing triggering events that can occur with respect to the process and/or one or more control applications that interface with an operator and/or control equipment for the process, and a second plurality of icons representing actions,
• (B) dragging-and-dropping from the first display pane onto a second display pane at least one icon selected from the first plurality of icons and at least one icon selected from the second plurality of icons, and, thereby, defining a workflow for the process control system determining one or more selected actions to be taken by a production engine in response to the selected triggering event,
• (C) coupling the workflow with a database configured to include a runtime component having a representation of the workflow and operational parameters obtained from at least one other database, each other database associated with a control application that is a client of the production engine,
• (D) monitoring the control applications to detect occurrence of the selected triggering event, and
• (E) responding to detected event by taking action in accord with the defined workflow.